39 pastel recipes

Piña colada pie: a four-ingredient frozen graham-crust pie with piña colada yogurt, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping. The easiest tropical dessert in the freezer playbook.

Cute Easter egg cookies are tender cut-out cookies shaped with an egg cutter and decorated with smooth pastel icing. A fun Easter baking project for kids, made lighter with a sugar substitute in the dough.

Fudgy chocolate brownie cookies topped with pastel-colored frosting and sugar crystals. Loaded with semisweet chocolate chips and finished with rainbow icing for a festive, party-ready treat.

Chile garlic wet marinade paste, a blended rub of jalapeno, chipotle in adobo, garlic, scallion, and olive oil. Smoky, spicy, and garlicky, it tenderizes and flavors beef like flank steak before grilling.

Spinach and basil blended with toasted walnuts, olive oil, and umami-rich miso paste. A dairy-free, vegan pesto that's ready in 25 minutes and keeps for a week in the fridge.

A classic and tasty Thai food. Fresh green beans, sweet potatoes and versatile tofu are cooked in creamy coconut milk and delicious yet spicy Thai curry paste. A little cilantro and fresh lime juice added in the end brightens up the whole dish and adds tons of refreshing taste.

Bold brisket marinade paste with Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, paprika, lemongrass oil, dry mustard, and red wine. Score the meat, rub it in, and marinate for several days for deep flavor penetration.

Rainbow trout Provencale with red bell pepper, fennel seeds, garlic, vermouth, and tomato paste. A light French-inspired fish dish cooked in minutes.

Italian lentils with sausage simmers fresh sausage in broth while earthy lentils cook with sage, soffritto, and tomato paste. A rustic Umbrian-style main or New Year lucky dish.

Ebi kimizushi: elegant Japanese stuffed-prawn sushi, with butterflied vinegar-marinated prawns filled with a silky, seasoned golden egg-yolk paste. A refined, bite-sized appetizer.

Spicy plum sauce simmered from fresh plums with ginger, garlic, Chinese five-spice, lime juice, and Thai chili paste. A bright, fiery condiment for spring rolls, duck, or grilled pork.

Thai red or green curry paste: a homemade aromatic blend of chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, ginger, and coriander. The from-scratch base for authentic Thai curries.

Quick vegetable curry simmers potato and frozen mixed vegetables in a spiced tomato sauce built from bloomed curry powder and tomato paste. A budget-friendly, vegan weeknight dinner in about 35 minutes.

Indian yogurt kabob sauce with cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and garlic-ginger paste. A tangy, spiced marinade for grilling meat, fish, or vegetables.

Vegan baked squash and yams layered with tomato sauce, soy milk, and chili garlic paste. A plant-based casserole with a sweet, savory, and spicy edge.

Pitlai is a South Indian lentil stew with bitter gourd (karela), chickpeas, tamarind, and a ground coconut-spice paste. A tangy, complex vegetarian curry with toor dal and jaggery.